Health Information

Heatstroke

Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own
temperature, and body temperature continues to rise.

Symptoms of heatstroke
include:

Unconsciousness for longer than a few seconds.

Confusion, severe restlessness, or anxiety.

Convulsion
(seizure).

Symptoms of moderate to severe difficulty breathing.

Fast heart rate.

Sweating that may be heavy or may have stopped.

Skin
that may be red, hot, and dry, even in the armpits.

Classic heatstroke can develop without exertion when a person is
exposed to a hot environment and the body is unable to cool itself effectively.
In this type of heatstroke, the body's ability to sweat and transfer the heat
to the environment is reduced. A person with heatstroke may stop sweating.
Classic heatstroke may develop over several days. Babies, older adults, and
people with chronic health problems have the greatest risk of this type of
heatstroke.

Exertional heatstroke may develop when a person is working or
exercising in a hot environment. A person with heatstroke from exertion may
sweat profusely, but the body still produces more heat than it can lose. This
causes the body's temperature to rise to high levels.

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